Fastening means for deflector ring



Dec. 2, 1969 w. A. WASEMANN 3,481,161

FASTENING MEANS FOR DEFLECTOR RING Filed Oct. 25, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. I.

WITNESSES INVENTOR AGENT Dec. 2, 1969 w. A. WASEMANN FASTENING MEANS FOR DEFLECTOR RING 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 23, 1967 3,481,161 FASTENING MEANS FOR DEFLECTOR RING William A. Wasemann, Mansfield, Ohio, assignor to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Oct. 23, 1967, Ser. No. 677,386 Int. Cl. D06f 13/00; F16b 13/04 U.S. Cl. 68-3 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Clothes deflector ring and integral fastener construction therefor for use in an agitator type washing machine. The ring has provided thereon a plurality of fasteners having a base with radial fins which curl inwardly toward the base as the fasteners are inserted through holes in the tub to which the ring is secured. There is a space between one end of the fins and surface of the ring, the space being variable due to the flexibility of the deflector in the area of attachment thereof to the fastener which flexibility is effected by reducing the thickness of the deflector in that area.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates, in general, to clothes washing machines of the agitator type and, more particularly, to a fastener construction for attaching a clothes deflector ring to the inner tub thereof.

It will be appreciated that metallic fasteners utilized within the inner tub of a clothes washing machine must be of corrosion resistant material, otherwise articles of clothing would become irreparably damaged. Since such hardware is quit expensive, it is not desirable to use separate hardware for installing such things as a deflection ring. Heretofore, the practice had been to use existing hardware, however, present constructions do not lend themselves to this end.

Accordingly, it is the general object of this invention to provide a new and improved fastener construction.

It is a more particular object of this invention to provide a new and improved fastener construction for attaching a clothes deflector ring to the inner tub of an agitator type washing machine.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved clothes deflector ring and fastener construction therefor which can be manufactured inexpensively by simple techniques.

SUMMARY Briefly, the above cited objects are accomplished by providing a molded plastic clothes deflector ringhaving formed integrally therewith fastener constructions equally spaced on the bottom surface thereof. The fastener construction comprises a cylindrical base joined at one end to the deflector ring and a plurality of fins each having portions thereof extending radially from the base and a portion thereof extending in a direction tangential to the base and spaced therefrom. The tangential portions are tapered toward the free end of the base to facilitate insertion thereof into holes provided therefor in the tub. As the fastener is inserted the fins due to their unique construction curl inwardly toward the base to allow complete insertion of the fins through the holes in the tub. The end of the tangential portion of the fin nearest the deflector ring together with the ring provide a space in which the tub wall is received when the fastener has been completely inserted, the last mentioned end serving to. retain the fins on the side of the tub wall opposite the deflector ring.

In the area of its attachment to the base, the ring portion is reduced in thickness such that it can be flexed when pressure is applied, This flexibility compensates for variation in thickness of the tub wall in a manner which will be more apparent from the description of the preferred embodiment of the invention.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent When considered in view of the following detailed description and drawings forming a part thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary front elevational view of an agitator type washing machine incorporating the invention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of a clothes deflector ring and integral fastener construction representing the invention; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the fastener construction incorporated in the deflector ring shown in FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings especially FIG. 1, reference character 10 designates generally an agitator structure carried by a centerpost structure 11 in a conventional manner. The agitator structure, which is carried 'within a spin tub 12 having a bottom wall 13, has a skirt portion 14 extending toward but stopping short of the bottom wall 13.

In accordance with well known practices, a clothes guard or deflector ring 16 is provided intermediate the agitator 10 and the bottom wall 13. The ring comprises a wall 9 having an inclined portion '17 which along with the lower edge of the agitator prevent clothes from being washed under the agitator and about the centerpost structure.

The deflector ring 16 made from any suitable material, for example, plastic, has formed integrally therewith, a plurality of fastener constructions 18 substantially equally spaced about the bottom wall of the ring. Each fastener construction 18 comprises a base portion 19 (see FIG. 3) and a plurality of fins 21, each having a radial portion 22 I and a portion 23 extending in a direction substantially tangential to the base portion 19.

One end of the base 19 and one end of each of the radial portions 22 is joined to the deflector 16 while neither end of the tangential portion 23 is attached. The end 25 of the tangential portion 23 adjacent the ring 16 is spaced therefrom and serves to captivate the bottom wall 13 therebetween, In order to compensate for varying thicknesses of the wall 13 the deflector ring 16, in the area indicated at 24, is reduced in thickness to render the deflector flexible thereat. This reduced area acts as a Belleville spring, therefore, flexing as pressure is applied. When a wall thickness is encountered which is greater than the dimension between the end of the tangential portion 23 adjacent the ring 16 and the surface of the ring indicated at 26 (see FIG. 1), the flexing of the reduced area 24 permits the ends 25 of this tangential portion 23 to completely penetrate the holes 27 in the bottom wall 13. Flexibility of the area 24 is further increased by removing material therefrom to provide openings 30.

The fins of the fasteners .18 are flexible and due to the tapered edges 28 of the tangential portion 23 curl inwardly toward the base 19 thereby compensating for variations in the size of the holes 27. Additionally, the circumscription about the radial portions 22 adjacent the portions attached to the deflector 16 is sufficiently smaller than the holes to compensate for misalignment of the holes or fasteners.

It will now be apparent that there has been shown and described an integral fastener construction which compensates for wall thickness of one of the attached parts and which compensates for variation in size and alignment of holes in that part which receives the fastener construction.

I claim as my invention:

1. For use in an agitator type washing machine, clothes deflector ring structure for mounting between the agitator structure and the bottom wall of the spin tub, said ring structure comprising: a plurality of integral fasteners each comprising a base portion having means extending substantially radially therefrom and providing a space between the ring and one end of said radially extending means, said ring being reduced in thickness at its areas of attachment to said fasteners to thereby render it flexible to produce variable spacing between said one end of said radially extending means and said ring at points adjacent said area of attachment.

2. Structure as specified in claim 1, wherein said radially extending means comprises a plurality of fins each comprising a segment extending radially from said base and a segment extending substantially tangential to said base portion, the radial extent of said radial segments plus half the length of said base defining half the diameter of the hole which will receive said fins and said tangential segments being flexible thereby permitting curling inwardly toward said base portion upon insertion thereof to points where they coincide with a circle circumscribing said radial segments.

3. Structure as specified in claim 2, wherein said tangential segments are tapered to compensate for variation in the hole size into which it is inserted.

4. Structure as specified in claim 1, wherein said area of attachment is provided with a plurality of openings therethrough to provide greater flexibility thereof.

5. Fastener construction comprising: a Wall having a flexible area of reduced thickness, a base portion attached to and extending perpendicularly from said area of reduced thickness, means extending radially from said base portion, said radial means being partially coextensive with only part of said base portion to provide a space between the end thereof and said wall in an area of normal thickness, said area of reduced thickness being provided with a plurality of cut-out areas to produce optimum flexibility in that area.

6. Structure as specified in claim 5, wherein said radially extending means comprises a plurality of fins each comprising a segment extending radially from said base portion and a segment extending substantially tangential to said base portion, the radial extent of said radial segments plus half the base portion defining half the diameter of the minimum size hole which will receive said fins and said tangential portions being flexible thereby permitting curling thereof inwardly toward said base portion upon insertion thereof to positions intermediate their normal position and positions where they would coincide with the circumscription of said radial segments.

7. Structure as specified in claim 6, wherein said tangential segments are tapered to compensate for variations in the hole size into which it is to be inserted.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,712,755 5/1929 Dietenberger 68134 XR 1,911,903 5/1933 Kirby 68-23 2,255,050 9/1941 Dunham 68133 XR 3,127,965 4/1964 Weisenberger. 3,141,209 7/1964 Van Buren. 3,177,540 4/1965 Hall et al. 85--80 3,230,592 1/ 1966 Hosea.

FOREIGN PATENTS 228,941 11/ 1959 Australia.

556,994 5/1957 Belgium. 1,125,106 7/1956 France.

803,233 4/1951 Germany.

ROBERT L. BLEUTGE, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 

